Tuesday night the Atlanta Hawks were in Miami for another Eastern Conference showdown. This game was a big celebration for Miami, as the HEAT were celebrating the 20th anniversary of their 1st NBA Championship Team of 2006. 

The HEAT opened up the first quarter with a few high quality scores in transition, going over the top with the 06’ champions in the house. 

Atlanta looks much different without Trae Young. The Hawks look like they have a more well rounded team now. Atlanta was giving the HEAT problems with their fast pace & just making more shots. 

The Hawks were getting “down & dirty” on Miami, making hustle plays & bringing more physicality in the paint. Atlanta dominated the HEAT in the 1st quarter.

In the second quarter the Hawks were scoring way too easily in transition outrunning the HEAT to the basket. Atlanta was putting on a clinic offensively, making the HEAT look bad on 06 Championship Night.

Ira Winderman tweeted, “And gets worse. Now down 48-30 with 7:49 left in second period. Looks a lot like Saturday vs. Bulls. Lack of consistency the story of this season.”

Miami HEAT TV broadcaster Eric Reid says, “the HEAT look defenseless.”  You would hope that the HEAT could cut the deficit, but the Hawks were just playing “too strong.” Miami was frustrated with their offense but they weren’t playing much defense either.

5 Reasons Sports tweeted, “Weird night, more focus on 2006 title (celebration at halftime) and the trade deadline.”

Couper Moorhead tweeted, “Heat have had some success with early attacks and finding the occasional mismatch against a smaller Hawks rotation, but Hawks are on pace to shoot 56 threes and the disparity there, plus zero points off Hawks turnovers, is how we are where we are.”

At halftime the Hawks led  67 to 50. The Heat were being outscored 33-15 on 3-pointers through the first half.

Five Reasons Sports tweeted, 

In the 3Q the HEAT scored the first 5 points of the quarter as they tried to take back momentum of the game. 

Major Passons tweeted, “Maybe the Heat are trying to pay respects to the 06 team and have a big comeback.”

Nobody is protected from mayhem as Ira Winderman tweeted, “Myron Gardner is happening (that's a good thing).” 

Couper Moorhead tweeted, “The zone is doing a lot of work for Miami this half, to say the least.”

The Miami HEAT couldn’t fully sustain a comeback in the 3rd period as every time they got it within 6 or 7 points it would go back up to 13 or more on em. At the end of the turd quarter it was Hawks 98, Heat 81 as the 06 Champions watched hot garbage!

In the 4Q there was a "We Want Giannis" chant as the Hawks just kept putting it on the HEAT. Miami was absolutely thrilled to celebrate their 20 year championship reunion & that’s all that really mattered. 

It was a disappointing effort for the Miami HEAT on this highly celebrated night at home as they lost to the Atlanta Hawks.

It's the threes. Sometimes, it's really just about the threes. Bad shooting luck or not, most of Miami's recent losses have been defined at the arc, one way or another.

Coup’s Takeaways: